Clothesline support



April 29, 1952 v G. c. cuRTz CLOTHESLINE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 23, 1946 IINVENTOR. 650265 c. cwzrz.

Patented Apr. 29, 1952 CLOTHESLINE SUPPORT George C. Curtz, Pittsburgh,Pa., assignor to George E. Curtz, Pittsburgh, Pa.

, Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,758

2 Claims. 1

My invention is an improvement in clothes line supports, and has for itsobject to provide means for easy and effective raising and lowering ofthe supporting element for the line, and particularly for effectingtightening engagement of such support upon and in connection with asupporting standard.

In the ordinary use of clothes lines, it is desirable that they beinitially in position within reasonably convenient reach, for placementof the wet clothing or the like. Ordinarily it is common practice toelevate the line at one or more points between connecting terminals, forsuch purpose.

In my invention, I provide one or more supporting standards, eachprovided with a slidably related attaching terminal, and a dependinghandle, whereby the line may be initially connected at a distance withinreasonable reach from the ground, and then elevated to any desiredheight for use. The effective element contributing to such operation anduse, is in the form of a slidably mounted holding device, of suchconstruction as to be in either gripping or releasing condition, on asuitable standard or post, depending on the operating conditions, as

shall be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating one preferred form of theinvention:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing a pair of the devices asused.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified construction of thesupporting standard.

Fig. 3 is a partial face view of the operative mechanism, at rightangles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse partial sectional view on the line IV-IV of Fig.1, showing the device in gripping relation to the standard.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the device relaxed, as in non-grippingposition.

Fig. 6 is an isometric View illustrating a modified construction.

Referring to the drawing, a standard 2, which may conveniently be in theform of a section of piping or tubing, either single, or in connectionwith a lower reinforcing section 3, is fixedly located in the ground atsuitable location with relation to a companion member, or other suitablefixture.

The active element of the device consists of r a hook i, which in theform shown, is the terminal of a continuous wire 5, and which isspirally wound one or more times around the upper standard 2, in theform of a coil as at 6, for free sliding movement thereon, when notloaded.

By reason of the construction, with the hook 4 somewhat above the coil6, the tension of the clothes line I tends to effect a gripping actionby the coil against the standard 2, and to bind thereon under such load,much in the manner of a-lever action.

The lower downwardly extending portion of wire 5 is provided with aterminal handle 8, such portions extending downwardly and outwardly at aslight angle from the standard 2, thereby assisting coil 6 to effect agripping or binding action on standard 2, in connection with the pull ofthe line.

Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the coil or coils 6 under such strainand in close gripping action around the pipe 2.

Fig. 5 shows the coil relaxed, slightly separated from contact as at 9,and free to move upwardly and downwardly thereon.

It will thus be seen, that with the device lowered as indicated indotted lines, Fig. 1, it is in convenient position for lacing theclothes line around the hook, and for elevating it to operativeposition. By exerting a slight outward pull on the depending somewhatstifi wire 5, as at 5a, the coil 6 may be released for free upwardmovement, even though under tension of the line.

Upon releasing handle 8, the tension of the line I, alone or whenloaded, will tend to tighten the coil 6 around the standard 2, assistedby the gravitating action of the handle and wire.

Fig. 2 shows a modification of the device, in which a sulficient lengthof standard 2b is mounted between upper and lower fixtures ll) and H,bolted or otherwise attached to any permanent surface l2, as of abuilding, wall, or the like.

While good results may be had with the construction as made of a singleWire with the gripping and releasing coil 6, the same effect for freesliding and incidental lever action gripping, may be secured, as by useof a plate ring l3, the inner circular edge M of which slightly exceedsin diameter, that of the standard 2.

In such case the plate may be separately attached to a hook 4a and ahandle 5a, secured to the plate ring 3, as at [5.

It will be understood that the device, which can ordinarily be made of acontinuous section of sufficiently stifi wire, having the necessarydegree of flexibility and resilience, is effective in providing for agood gripping action on the support, it may be substituted by such othermeans, with the hook and handle.

Also, that the device may be changed or modified in proportions,dimensions, sizes, or other 3 features by the skilled mechanic, withinthe scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A manually and vertically adjustable clothes line support comprisinga vertically extending standard, and a wire rod having an intermediateportion coiled about said standard and having a loose fit for slidingmovement thereon to difierent positions of vertical adjustment, an upperend portion connected with and extending angularly upwardly with respectto the axis of said intermediate portion to provide a hook to which aclothes line may be fastened, said hook, being operable by the force ofa clothes line fastened thereto to tilt said intermediate portion onsaid standard into gripping engagement therewith to restrain it againstvertical movement thereon, and a lower end portion connected with andextending angularly outwardly and downwardly with respect to the axis ofsaid intermediate portion, and a handle on the terminal of said lowerend portion for manually operating it to move said intermediate portionout of gripping engagement with said standard and for adjusting itsvertical position thereon.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 characterized by said intermediateportion being comprised of at least two coiled loops with said upperREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 950,043 Gierding Feb. 22, 1910 151,014,861 I Bennett Jan. 16, 1012 1,016,822 Golden Feb. 6, 19121,048,780 W'oolhiser Dec. 31, 1912 1,201,427 Angvick Oct. 17, 19181,238,295 Hunt Aug. 28, 1917 20 1,455,557 Tydings May 15, 1923 1,778,255.Frost Oct. 14, 1930 2,265,017 Winkle Dec. 2, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 5Number Country Date 16,228 Great Britain 1898 706,701 France Mar, 31,1931

